Unsurprisingly given its links to Manchester City the A-League club is headed to England to utilise their parent club’s world class facilities over the course of a 17-day pre-season training camp.

It will also play pre-season matches against Bolton Wanderers, Oldham Athletic and Bury.

City players and coaches will leave for the United Kingdom over the course of Sunday and Monday and be based at Manchester City’s Carrington headquarters from July 8-24.

It is there that they will link up with one of their star signings, 100-time Irish international and former English Premier League star, Damien Duff.

City will play Bury behind closed doors at Manchester’s training facility at a date yet to be confirmed, before taking on Oldham at Boundary Park, Oldham on Saturday, July 19, and Bolton at County Ground, Leyland, on Wednesday July 23.

The team will then be back in time for its opening FFA Cup clash with Sydney FC in Melbourne on Tuesday, August 12.

The Carrington base has, among other things, five pitches, first-class medical facilities and a player analysis unit.

Manchester City’s players back from World Cup commitments have pre-season training and matches in Scotland at the time ahead of a tournament in the United States.

Coach John van ‘t Schip said the tour would be an important part of the club’s pre-season.

“It is a great opportunity to prepare for the A-League season, utilising Carrington – an exceptional Premier League level facility,” van ’t Schip said.

“It also presents us with a great opportunity to play teams from the English leagues, for our squad to gain fitness and experience, and to ensure we are progressing well ahead of our season.

“It is unique for teams and players in the A-League to have this kind of opportunity, so we are looking forward to forming further bonds with Manchester and Manchester City.”

Bolton currently plays in the English Championship, finishing 14th last season, but was in the Premier League as recently as 2011-12.